Image control method for defining images for waypoints along a trajectory

ABSTRACT

A method including: displaying on a display a reference image; displaying on the display a start position within the reference image; displaying on the display an end position within the reference image; determining a trajectory between the start position and the end position; and defining a target image for each of a plurality of waypoints along the determined trajectory.

TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the present invention relate to image control.

BACKGROUND

A camera sensor is capable of capturing an image as an array of pixels.

In some implementations, the process of controlling a camera sensor tocapture one or more images may be automated. For example, focus may beautomatic, exposure may be automatic and white balance may be automatic.Also, in a burst mode, a sequence of images may be taken automaticallyin rapid succession in response to a single user action.

BRIEF SUMMARY

According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments of theinvention there is provided a method comprising: displaying on a displaya reference image; displaying on the display a start position within thereference image; displaying on the display an end position within thereference image; determining a trajectory between the start position andthe end position; and defining a target image for each of a plurality ofwaypoints along the determined trajectory.

The method provides a new way to define a sequence of differently framedtarget images.

According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments of theinvention there is provided an apparatus comprising: a display; and acontroller configured to:

control display on the display of a reference image;

control display on the display of a start position within the referenceimage;

control display on the display of an end position within the referenceimage;

determine a target image for each of a plurality of waypoints along atrajectory between the start position and the end position.

In some embodiments, the sequence of differently framed target imagesmay be captured without movement of the camera sensor.

In some embodiments, all or some of the sequence of differently framedtarget images may be captured after determining the trajectory.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

For a better understanding of various examples of embodiments of thepresent invention reference will now be made by way of example only tothe accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a method for defining a sequence ofdifferently framed target images;

FIG. 2A illustrates an example of a start position and an end positionwithin a reference image;

FIG. 2B illustrates an example of a trajectory between a start positionand an end position within a reference image;

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a sequence of differently framed targetimages associated with waypoints;

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a displayed trajectory that has had itsshape changed by a user;

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a sequence of differently framed targetimages of changing frame size;

FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C illustrate examples of playback of the sequence ofdifferently framed target images;

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of an apparatus 30 for defining a sequenceof differently framed target images;

FIG. 8 illustrates an example of a record carrier tangibly embodying acomputer program; and

FIG. 9 schematically illustrates a method for capturing a sequence ofdifferently framed target images without moving the camera sensor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a method 2. The method defines asequence of differently framed target images.

At block 3, a reference image is displayed on a display. FIG. 2Aschematically illustrates a display 8 and a reference image 10 displayedon the display 8.

Next at block 4 of the method 2, a start position 12 is displayed, onthe display 8, within the reference image 10.

At block 5 of the method 2, an end position 14 is displayed, on thedisplay 8, within the reference image 10.

As illustrated in FIG. 2A the start position 12 and the end position 14may be displayed simultaneously within the reference image 10.

In this illustrated example, the start position 12 is highlighted usinga rectangular frame 13 that encloses or frames a portion of thereference image 10 and the end position 14 is highlighted using adifferent rectangular frame 11 that encloses or frames a differentportion of the reference image 10.

Next at block 6 of the method 2, a trajectory 16 between the startposition 12 and the end position 14 is determined.

As illustrated in FIG. 2B an indication of the trajectory 16 may bedisplayed, on the display 8, within the reference image 10. In FIG. 2B,the trajectory 16 is displayed but in other embodiments waypoints 18along the trajectory 16 may be displayed.

Next at block 7 of the method 2, a target image is determined for eachof a plurality of waypoints along the determined trajectory 16.

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a sequence of target images 20. Eachtarget image is associated with a different waypoint. Each target imageis differently framed, that is the frames defining the perimeters of thetarget images 20 are displaced along the trajectory 16.

An initial target image 20 in the sequence is centered on the startposition 12 (first waypoint). Referring back to FIG. 2A, the startposition 12 may for example be determined by a center of the initialframe 13. The size of the initial frame 13 may also determine the sizeof the initial target image 20.

A final target image 20 in the sequence is centered on the end position14 (end waypoint). Referring back to FIG. 2A, the end position 14 mayfor example be determined by a center of the final frame 11. The size ofthe final frame 11 may also determine the size of the final target image20.

Each of the other intermediate target images 20 in the sequence isassociated with a respective intermediate waypoint 18 on the trajectory16. The trajectory 16 starts at the start point 12 and ends at the endpoint 14. In this example, the trajectory is divided into N segments ofequal length. The end of the first N−1 segments is marked by a waypoint18. Each target image 20 in the sequence is centered on a respective oneof the waypoints 18, 12, 14.

Each target image 20 may be a different portion of a single image.Alternatively, each target image 20 may be a separately captured image.Alternatively, each target image may be a video frame from a video clip.

FIG. 7 schematically illustrates an example of an apparatus 30. Theapparatus may be any suitable apparatus 30 with camera functionality.The apparatus 30 may be a hand-portable apparatus, that is, an apparatussized to be carried in a palm of a human hand and/or to fit in an insidejacket pocket. Examples of suitable apparatus 30 include a portablecamera, a mobile cellular telephone, a personal digital assistant, apersonal computer, a tablet computer, a personal media player etc.

The apparatus 30 comprises a controller 32, a user input 36, a useroutput 38 and a camera sensor 34. The user output comprises a display 8.

The controller 32 is configured to receive user commands from the userinput 36 and provide output commands to the user output 38. Thecontroller 32 is also configured to control a camera sensor 34 and toreceive images captured by the camera sensor 34.

In some embodiments, the camera sensor may comprise a large number ofsensor elements each of which is capable of recording a color pixel.There may, for example, be in excess of 30 million sensor elements.

In some embodiments, the display 8 is a display that is used as a cameraviewfinder. A camera viewfinder is used to display a representation ofan image that would be captured by the camera sensor 34 if image captureoccurred at that time.

In some embodiments, the user input 36 may comprise a touch sensitivescreen 48 for touch input by a user. The touch sensitive screen 48 maybe integrated with the display 8 as a touch sensitive display. In someembodiments, the touch sensitive display may be used as a cameraviewfinder.

The controller 32 is configured to control the definition of targetimages 20, for example, as described in relation to the method 2.

For example, the controller 32 is configured to control display on thedisplay 8 of a reference image 10; to control display on the display 8of a start position 12 within the reference image 10; to control displayon the display 8 of an end position 14 within the reference image 10;and to determine a target image 20 for each of a plurality of waypoints18 along a trajectory 16 between the start position 12 and the endposition 14.

In some but not necessarily all embodiments, the controller 32 may beconfigured to select portions of a single image as the target images.The controller 32 may have controlled the camera sensor 34 to capturethe single image after determining the trajectory 16.

In some but not necessarily all embodiments, the controller may beconfigured to control the camera sensor 34 to capture each of the targetimages 20, after determining the trajectory 16. They may be capturedwith common camera settings of focus, exposure and white balance.

In some embodiments, the user input 36 may comprise a microphone 46 forrecording ambient audio. The controller 32 may be configured to recordaudio using the microphone 46 for playback with playback of the sequenceof target images 20.

In some embodiments, the controller 32 is configured to store in amemory a data structure defining an ordered sequence of the capturedtarget images 20 along the determined trajectory 16. This data structuremay be used for playback of the target images 20.

In some embodiments, the controller 32 is configured to store in amemory the defined target images, whereas in other embodiments it may beconfigured to store data in a memory defining which portions of a storedimage or images are the target images 20.

In some embodiments, the method 2 is an image capture method. Thecontroller 32 enables a user to control the image capture method 2 usingthe user input 36.

The user may be able to select a particular content for the initialtarget image 20 by changing the size of the initial frame 13 at thestart position 12 and/or by changing the start position 12.

The user may be able to select a particular content for the final targetimage 20 by changing the size of the final frame 11 at the end position14 and/or by changing the end position 14.

The user may be able to control how many waypoints 18/target images 20are used either by selecting a number of target images 20/waypoints 18or by selecting a playback time period for playback of the sequence ofthe target images 20.

The user may be able to control a format of the target images 20. Forexample, the target images 20 may be portions from a single image.Alternatively, the target images 20 may each be a whole or part of animage in a sequence of multiple different images. Alternatively, thetarget images may each be a whole or part of a frame in a video clip.

The display 8 may display the determined trajectory 16. The user input36 may enable a user to control a shape of a displayed trajectory 16.For example, if the user input 36 comprises a touch sensitive display 8then a user may be able to select the trajectory 16 by touching it usinga digit and change its position by dragging the touching finger over thetouch sensitive display 8. The trajectory 16 moves with the touchingfinger. However, the start point 12 and the end point 14 do not move.

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a displayed trajectory that has had itsshape changed by a user. The trajectory 16 is curved rather thanstraight.

The waypoints are illustrated on the curved trajectory 16 as is thesequence of target images 20 associated with the waypoints.

An initial target image 20 in the sequence is centered on the startposition 12 (initial waypoint). Referring back to FIG. 2A, the startposition 12 may for example be determined by a center of the initialframe 13. The size of the initial frame 13 may also determine the sizeof the initial target image 20.

A final target image 20 in the sequence is centered on the end position14 (end waypoint). Referring back to FIG. 2A, the end position 14 mayfor example be determined by a center of the final frame 11. The size ofthe final frame 11 may also determine the size of the final target image20.

Each of the other intermediate target images 20 in the sequence isassociated with a respective intermediate waypoint 18 on the trajectory16. The trajectory 16 starts at the start point 12 and ends at the endpoint 14. In this example, the trajectory is divided into N curvedsegments of equal length. The end of the first N−1 segments is marked byan intermediate waypoint 18. A target image 20 in the sequence iscentered on a respective one of the waypoints 12, 14, 18.

Referring to FIG. 5, the controller 32 may be configured to determine asize (field of view) of a target image for each of the plurality ofwaypoints along the determined trajectory 16 between an initial targetimage 20 at the start position 12 and a final target image 20 at the endposition 14.

The content of the initial target image 20 may be determined by theinitial frame 13 at the start position 12. For example, the size (fieldof view) of the initial target image 20 may be determined by a size ofthe initial frame 13.

The content of the final target image 20 may be determined by the finalframe 11 at the end position 14. For example, the size (field of view)of the final target image 20 may be determined by a size of the finalframe 11.

As described above, each target image is associated with a waypointalong the determined trajectory between the initial target image 20 andfinal target image 20.

The size (field of view) of an intermediate target image 20 may bedependent upon the size (field of view) of the initial target image, thesize (field of view) of the final target image and the distance of thewaypoint associated with the intermediate target image 20 along thetrajectory 16.

Let us assume a first aspect ratio R for each of the target images 20.Let the initial target image (frame 13) have a field of view defined bya length L1 and a height L1/R. Let the final target image (frame 11)have a field of view defined by a length L2 and a height L2/R. Let thelength of the trajectory 16 between the initial target image 20 (startpoint 12) and the final target image 20 (end point 14) be Z. Let theposition of an arbitrary target image (waypoint) along the trajectory 16from the initial target image 20 and the final target image 20 be z.

Then the length LA of the field of view of the arbitrary target image 20may be determined as:LA=L1+(L2−L1)*z/Z

The width of the field of view of the arbitrary target image may bedetermined as:

LA/R

Thus the intermediate target images 20 associated with the waypointsalong the determined trajectory 16 transition gradually in size (fieldof view) between the size (field of view) of the initial target imageand the size (field of view) of the final target image. The transitionis a linear transition that scales with the difference between the size(field of view) of the final target image and the initial target imageand a distance z along the trajectory 16 from the initial target imageof the waypoint associated with the target image.

Despite changing the field of view for the series of target images, itmay be desirable to display the series of target images in a displayconstantly sized display region. Increasing the field of view, in thisscenario, corresponds to a zoom-out. Decreasing the field of view, inthis scenario, corresponds to a zoom-in.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the target image 20 in the sequence ofdifferently framed target images may be associated with a differentportion of the camera sensor 34.

For example, if an array of sensor elements in the camera sensor maps tothe pixels of the displayed reference image 10, then the differentlyframed target images 20 determined for the reference image 10 map tocorresponding different portions of the sensor array.

The array of sensor elements in the camera sensor may include a verylarge number of sensor elements, for example, greater than 30 millionsensor elements capable of capturing an equivalent number of colorpixels. A single pixel in the reference image 10 may therefore map to anarray of sensor elements. That is the ratio of sensed pixels todisplayed pixels may be greater than 1. This enables a zoom function.

Changing a position of a target image 20 in the reference image 10changes the location of that array of sensor elements.

Changing a size of a target image 20 in the reference image 10 changesthe size of that array of sensor elements. Increasing the size of thearray increases the field of view and also increases the number ofsensed pixels (assuming that all sensor elements in the array are used).

FIG. 9 schematically illustrates a method 2 that defines a sequence ofdifferently framed target images 20. The method 2 is similar to thatillustrated in FIG. 1 and where appropriate the references of FIG. 1have been used in FIG. 9 to indicate similar blocks.

The method 2 illustrated in FIG. 9 relates to an embodiment whetherputative target images are determined before one or more images arecaptured to define the actual target images 20. The images are capturedusing different portions of an array of sensor elements in the camerasensor 34.

The putative target images are determined by determining the trajectory16 between the start position 12 and the end position 14, determiningthe waypoints 18 on the trajectory 16 and determining the size of thetarget images 20 associated with the waypoints 18.

At block 60, the reference image 10 is displayed in a touch-sensitivedisplay 8 of a camera viewfinder.

At block 61, the user selects content of the initial target image byselecting a position and size of the initial frame 13 displayed over thereference image 10.

The position 12 of the initial frame 13 may be determined by touching aportion of the reference image 10 displayed in the touch-sensitivedisplay 8. The initial frame 13 may be repositioned by placing a fingerwithin the initial frame 13 and dragging the finger along thetouch-sensitive display 8. The initial frame 13 may be re-sized byplacing a finger at a corner of the initial frame 13 and dragging thefinger along the touch-sensitive display 8. This re-sizes the initialframe 13 while maintaining its aspect ratio. The initial frame 13 may,in some embodiments, be re-sized by placing a finger at an edge of theinitial frame 13 and dragging the finger along the touch-sensitivedisplay 8. This re-sizes the initial frame 13 either lengthwise only orheight-wise only depending on the selected edge.

At block 62, the user selects content of the final target image 20 byselecting a position and size of the final frame 11 displayed over thereference image 10.

The position of the final frame 11 may be determined by touching aportion of the reference image 10 displayed in the touch-sensitivedisplay 8. The final frame 11 may be repositioned by placing a fingerwithin the final frame 11 and dragging the finger along thetouch-sensitive display 8. The final frame 11 may be re-sized by placinga finger at a corner of the final frame 11 and dragging the finger alongthe touch-sensitive display 8. This re-sizes the final frame 11 whilemaintaining its aspect ratio. The final frame 11 may, in someembodiments, be re-sized by placing a finger at an edge of the finalframe 11 and dragging the finger along the touch-sensitive display 8.This re-sizes the final frame 11 either lengthwise only or height-wiseonly depending on the selected edge.

In some embodiments, if an aspect ratio of the final frame 11 ischanged, the aspect ratio of the initial frame 13 is automaticallychanged to match and vice versa.

Next at block 63, a trajectory 16 between the initial frame 13 and thefinal frame 11 is determined. The initial frame 13 represents a putativeinitial target image. The final frame 11 represents a putative finaltarget image.

The trajectory is displayed in the viewfinder 8. It may be modified bythe user by, for example, dragging a portion of the trajectory 16 withinthe touch-sensitive display 8.

At block 64, the intermediate waypoints 18 along the trajectory aredetermined either manually, semi-automatically or fully automatically.The number of waypoints may be defined by a user either directly orindirectly or they may be calculated automatically. For example, a usermay use the user input 36 to specify the number of waypoints used.Alternatively, the user may use the user input 36 to specify a playbacktime period which will be used to playback the sequence of target images20. The controller 32 may be configured to calculate an appropriatenumber of waypoints given the playback time period.

The intermediate waypoints 18 determine the positions of the putativeintermediate target images associated with the intermediate waypoints18.

At block 64, the sizes (field of view) of the putative intermediatetarget images may also be determined, for example, as described withreference to FIG. 5.

At block 65, common camera settings of focus, exposure and white balanceare determined.

The method 2 then performs blocks 66, 67, 68 in parallel, that is,simultaneously.

At block 66, in this embodiment, a sequence of target images 20 iscaptured that corresponds with the sequence of putative target images.

The sequence of target images is captured without having to move theapparatus 30 or camera sensor 34. Instead, different portions of thecamera sensor are used for each target image 20. For example, if anarray of sensor elements in the camera sensor maps to the pixels of thedisplayed reference image 10, then the putative target images determinedfor the reference image map to corresponding portions of the sensorarray.

The array of sensor elements in the camera sensor 34 may include a verylarge number of sensor elements, for example, greater than 30 millionsensor elements capable of capturing an equivalent number of colorpixels. A single pixel in the reference image 10 may therefore map to anarray of sensor elements.

At block 67, while the target images are being captured, each targetimage along the determined trajectory 16 in the reference image 10 isdemarcated on the reference image 10 when the respective target image isbeing captured. For example, when a target image is captured a framedelineating that target image may be displayed in the reference image 10in the viewfinder display 8.

At block 68. while the target images are being captured ambient audio issimultaneously recorded for playback with the sequence of target images.The audio may be recorded for a playback period.

In the method 2 illustrated in FIG. 9, each target image 20 is aseparate automatically captured image.

In other embodiments, each target image 20 may be a portion of a singlecaptured image.

In other embodiments, each target image may be a video frame of acaptured video.

In the method 2 illustrated in FIG. 9, the trajectory 16 is determinedbefore one or more images are captured to define the actual targetimages 20.

In other embodiments, the trajectory 16 may be determined after one ormore images are captured to define the actual target images 20. Forexample the reference image may be a previously captured image. In thisexample, defining a target image for each of a plurality of waypointsalong the determined trajectory 16 comprises processing the previouslycaptured reference image.

FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C schematically illustrate playback of the sequence oftarget images 20.

FIG. 6A illustrates a situation where the trajectory 16 is a straight,horizontal line and the target images 20 are overlapping images of thesame size evenly distributed along the trajectory 16.

FIG. 6B illustrates playback of the defined target images 20 illustratedin FIG. 6A as a panorama 21, that is, as a sequence over space. Thetarget images 20 are displayed at the same time.

FIG. 6C illustrates playback of the defined target images 20 as asequence of distinct images over time.

The FIG. 6C illustrates that the target images 20 in the sequence oftarget images are displayed one after the other, in order, as timepasses.

The ‘waypoint’ x-axis is included to clearly distinguish the differenttarget images 20 and that different ones of the targets images 20 aredisplayed at different times (y-axis). However, this x-axis displacementdoes not mean that the target images 20 are displayed at differentlocations in a display. The target images 20 may be displayed one afterthe other in the same display at a resolution that fills the particulardisplay. The display for playback may or may not have a differentresolution than the display 8 used for defining target image capture.Typically, each captured target image has more sensed pixels than thedisplay 8 is capable of displaying. If the target images have beencaptured with different fields of view (differently sized arrays ofsensor elements) then the target images may be displayed with differenteffective zooms to maintain a constant display resolution between thedisplayed target images. A zoom may therefore be applied across all ofthe target images based on the resolution of the playback display and azoom may be applied between images to maintain a constant displayresolution despite varying fields of view.

The playback of the target images may occur over a playback period.There may be playback of simultaneously recorded ambient audio duringplayback of the defined target images 20 as a sequence of distinctimages over time.

The captured target images may have been recorded over a recording time.The playback time and the recording time may be the same or different.The number of captured target images recorded may depend upon thedifference. For example, if slow-motion or fast-motion is required.

Referring back to FIG. 7, the controller 32 may be implemented usinginstructions that enable hardware functionality, for example, by usingexecutable computer program instructions in a general-purpose orspecial-purpose processor that may be stored on a computer readablestorage medium (disk, memory etc) to be executed by such a processor.

The controller 32 may comprise a processor 40 and a memory 42. Theprocessor 40 is configured to read from and write to the memory 42. Theprocessor 40 may also comprise an output interface via which data and/orcommands are output by the processor 40 and an input interface via whichdata and/or commands are input to the processor 40.

The memory 42 stores a computer program 44 comprising computer programinstructions that control the operation of the apparatus 30 when loadedinto the processor 40. The computer program instructions 44 provide thelogic and routines that enables the apparatus to perform the methodsillustrated in the accompanying figures and the methods described in theaccompanying text. The processor 40 by reading the memory 42 is able toload and execute the computer program 44.

The apparatus 30 therefore comprises: at least one processor; and atleast one memory including computer program code the at least one memoryand the computer program code configured to, with the at least oneprocessor, cause the apparatus at least to perform: the method of any ofclaims 1 to 34.

Referring to FIG. 8, the computer program may arrive at the apparatus 30via any suitable delivery mechanism 50. The delivery mechanism 50 maybe, for example, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, acomputer program product, a memory device, a record medium such as acompact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) or digital versatile disc (DVD),an article of manufacture that tangibly embodies the computer program44. The delivery mechanism may be a signal configured to reliablytransfer the computer program 44. The apparatus 30 may propagate ortransmit the computer program 44 as a computer data signal.

Although the memory 42 is illustrated as a single component it may beimplemented as one or more separate components some or all of which maybe integrated/removable and/or may providepermanent/semi-permanent/dynamic/cached storage.

References to ‘computer-readable storage medium’, ‘computer programproduct’, ‘tangibly embodied computer program’ etc. or a ‘controller’,‘computer’, ‘processor’ etc. should be understood to encompass not onlycomputers having different architectures such as single/multi-processorarchitectures and sequential (Von Neumann)/parallel architectures butalso specialized circuits such as field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA),application specific circuits (ASIC), signal processing devices andother processing circuitry. References to computer program,instructions, code etc. should be understood to encompass software for aprogrammable processor or firmware such as, for example, theprogrammable content of a hardware device whether instructions for aprocessor, or configuration settings for a fixed-function device, gatearray or programmable logic device etc.

As used in this application, the term ‘circuitry’ refers to all of thefollowing:

(a) hardware-only circuit implementations (such as implementations inonly analog and/or digital circuitry) and

(b) to combinations of circuits and software (and/or firmware), such as(as applicable): (i) to a combination of processor(s) or (ii) toportions of processor(s)/software (including digital signalprocessor(s)), software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause anapparatus, such as a mobile phone or server, to perform variousfunctions) and

(c) to circuits, such as a microprocessor(s) or a portion of amicroprocessor(s), that require software or firmware for operation, evenif the software or firmware is not physically present.

This definition of ‘circuitry’ applies to all uses of this term in thisapplication, including in any claims. As a further example, as used inthis application, the term “circuitry” would also cover animplementation of merely a processor (or multiple processors) or portionof a processor and its (or their) accompanying software and/or firmware.The term “circuitry” would also cover, for example and if applicable tothe particular claim element, a baseband integrated circuit orapplications processor integrated circuit for a mobile phone or asimilar integrated circuit in server, a cellular network device, orother network device.”

As used here ‘module’ refers to a unit or apparatus that excludescertain parts/components that would be added by an end manufacturer or auser. The controller 32 may be a module. The controller 32 and camerasensor 34 may be housed in a single module.

The blocks illustrated in the FIGS. 1 and 9 may represent steps in amethod and/or sections of code in the computer program 44. Theillustration of a particular order to the blocks does not necessarilyimply that there is a required or preferred order for the blocks and theorder and arrangement of the block may be varied. Furthermore, it may bepossible for some blocks to be omitted.

Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in thepreceding paragraphs with reference to various examples, it should beappreciated that modifications to the examples given can be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention as claimed.

Features described in the preceding description may be used incombinations other than the combinations explicitly described.

Although functions have been described with reference to certainfeatures, those functions may be performable by other features whetherdescribed or not.

Although features have been described with reference to certainembodiments, those features may also be present in other embodimentswhether described or not.

Whilst endeavoring in the foregoing specification to draw attention tothose features of the invention believed to be of particular importanceit should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respectof any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbeforereferred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particularemphasis has been placed thereon.

We claim:
 1. A method comprising: displaying on a display a referenceimage provided by a camera sensor; displaying on the display a startposition within the reference image; displaying on the display an endposition within the reference image; using a processor to determine atrajectory, within the reference image, between the start positionwithin the reference image and the end position within the referenceimage and to define a target image for each of a plurality of waypointsalong the determined trajectory; mapping each target image to arespective portion of the camera sensor; and capturing each target imagewith the respective portion of the camera sensor.
 2. A method as claimedin claim 1, comprising: displaying the determined trajectory on thedisplay.
 3. A method as claimed in claim 1, comprising: enabling usercontrol of a shape of the trajectory.
 4. A method as claimed in claim 1,comprising: displaying the plurality of waypoints on the display.
 5. Amethod as claimed in claim 1, comprising: enabling user control of howmany waypoints are used.
 6. A method as claimed in claim 1, comprising:enabling user selection of a format of the target images, wherein theformat is selected from any one or more of: single image; sequentialmultiple images; video.
 7. A method as claimed in claim 1, furthercomprising determining a target image size for each of the plurality ofwaypoints along the determined trajectory between an initial targetimage at the start position and a final target image at the endposition, wherein the determined target image sizes for each of theplurality of waypoints along the determined trajectory between theinitial target image and final target image is based upon a size of theinitial target image and a size of the final target image.
 8. A methodas claimed in claim 1, wherein defining a target image for each of aplurality of waypoints along the determined trajectory comprisescapturing one or more images after determining the trajectory betweenthe start position and the end position wherein each target image is aportion of a single captured image or wherein each target image is aseparate automatically captured image or wherein each target image is aframe of a captured video.
 9. A method as claimed in claim 8, whereinthe reference image is displayed in a touch-sensitive display of acamera viewfinder, wherein the start position within the reference imageis user-definable by touching the touch-sensitive display and the endposition within the reference image is user-definable by touching thetouch-sensitive display.
 10. An apparatus comprising: at least onecamera sensor; at least one processor; and at least one memory includingcomputer program code the at least one memory and the computer programcode configured to, with the at least one processor and the at least onecamera sensor, cause the apparatus at least to perform the method ofclaim
 1. 11. An apparatus comprising: a camera sensor; a display; and acontroller configured to: control display on the display of a referenceimage provided by a sensor; control display on the display of a startposition within the reference image; control display on the display ofan end position within the reference image; determine a target image foreach of a plurality of waypoints along a trajectory, within thereference image, between the start position and the end position; andmap each target image to a respective portion of the camera sensor; thecamera sensor being configured to capture each target image with therespective portion of the camera sensor.
 12. An apparatus as claimed inclaim 11 further comprising a user input configured to enable one ormore of: user selection of the start position within the referenceimage; user selection of the end position within the reference image;user control of a shape of the trajectory when displayed on the display;user control of how many waypoints are used; user control of a timeperiod for a playback sequence comprising the target images; userselection of a format of the target images, wherein the format isselected from any one or more of: single image; sequential multipleimages; video; user control of an initial target image size at the startposition; user control of a final target image size at the end position.13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the user input anddisplay are combined as a touch sensitive display of a cameraviewfinder.
 14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein thecontroller is configured to: determine a target image size for each ofthe plurality of waypoints along the determined trajectory between aninitial target image at the start position and a final target image atthe end position, wherein the determined target image sizes for each ofthe plurality of waypoints along the determined trajectory between theinitial target image and final target image is based upon a size of theinitial target image and a size of the final target image, thedetermined target image sizes for each of the plurality of waypointsalong the determined trajectory between the initial target image andfinal target image transitioning gradually in size, with a common aspectratio, between the size of the initial target image and the size of thefinal target image.
 15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein thecontroller is configured to: determine a target image for each of aplurality of waypoints along the trajectory by selecting portions of thereference image as the target images.
 16. An apparatus as claimed inclaim 11 wherein the controller is configured to: determine a targetimage for each of a plurality of waypoints along the trajectory bycontrolling capture of a separate image for each target image.
 17. Anapparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the controller is configuredto control capture of the separate images with common camera settings offocus, exposure and white balance.
 18. An apparatus as claimed in claim11, further comprising a microphone wherein the controller is configuredto record audio using the microphone while the one or more capturedimages used to define the target images are being captured.
 19. Anapparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the controller is configuredto playback the defined target images as a sequence of distinct imagesover time.
 20. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein each target imageis a portion of the reference image.